Pakistan falter in another run chase

Pakistan Women, yet again, fell short in a chase as New Zealand went up 2-0 in the four-match T20I series in UAE. The visitors scored 150 thanks to splendid fifties from both the openers - Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates - and their bowlers exacerbated things for Pakistan with a combined disciplined effort, helping their side seal a yawning victory.

Chasing a stiff total, Pakistan got off to a decent start, but a lack of urgency in the middle overs acted as a stumbling block in their bid to overhaul the target. All of their top five batters got starts, and unfortunately none of them could convert those into anything substantial. In fact, they were 69 for 2 at the end of 12 overs with captain Bismah Maroof (15 off 17) and Javeria Khan (9 off 11) trying desperately to give the chase some momentum. The loss of three wickets in three successive over thereafter put paid to all hopes and pushed them behind the eight ball for the rest of the chase. Amy Satterthwaite was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 18 off three overs which included the key wicket of Aliya Riaz (23 off 22) - the highest scorer for Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand chose to bat under sultry conditions, and the decision to do so proved to be effectual - for most part of the innings - as openers Sophie Devine (70 off 44) and Suzie Bates (52 off 43) went on to compile fluent fifties which helped the team go past hundred in the 13th over. Subsequently, their quest for quick runs got the better of them and both fell in successive overs.

At 126 for 2 in 15 overs, the visitors had a well-set foundation for the batters to launch a fresh offensive, but as it turned out, the White Ferns lost six wickets in the space of ten balls - from 16.4 to 18.1 - courtesy some shambolic running and vacuous slogging. They eventually managed a mere 24 off the last five overs, losing six wickets while at it. They, however, ended up with 150 for 8, three better than the previous T20I which they'd won by 15 runs on Wednesday.